Olympics Water Supply

Supplying water to Beijing for the upcoming 2008 Olympics is a major issue in the planning and preparations for the games. Chinese officials estimate a 30% increase over average in Beijing's water consumption in the summer of 2008. A drought in neighboring Hebei province has raised concerns about the summer water supply. The Chinese Government is rushing the construction of a pipeline from Shaanxi province, which they hope will help the situation.

Fast Facts:

1. Officials expect a 30% increase in water consumption over average during the Beijing Olympics
2. Presently, most of Beijing's water comes from neighboring Hebei province
3. Droughts in Hebei have raised concerns for the Olympic water supply
4. Hebei reports over 12,740 square miles affected by drought
5. Still, additional pipeline is being constructed in Hebei
6. An additional pipeline is being rushed to supply water to Beijing from Shaanxi province
7. The controversial pipeline is part of a larger scale system, designed to bring water from the south to the north
8. Officials and citizens in Shaanxi object to the project because it has already affected the province's water supplies
9. Additionally, the project has forced many factories to shut down in Shaanxi
10. Beijing officials have declared the water supply and water safety for the 2008 Olympics a priority

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